You may be aware that the Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Cup Final was finally arranged for this Bank Holiday weekend.
The final was originally scheduled for the weekend of 17th / 18th March. This was a weekend free from league fixtures for both Chippenham and Bournemouth.
This was a date known to all concerned (clubs, players, referees and committees) for a number of weeks.
At the last minute, the final was cancelled because Bournemouth requested a week off before a crucial league match for them and therefore the county decided that Bournemouth and their quest for promotion was more important than the County Cup and any other side.
The background to the decision or even the request were never made public to Chippenham until weeks after the final.
So began protracted discussions about when the final should be. From the outset, Chippenham stated that the May bank holiday weekend would not be appropriate due to a vast number of prior commitments for players and coaches.
The County then chose the Bank Holiday weekend despite our comments and originally Bournemouth's (as they stated that they too could not do these dates) - since winning promotion to National 2 they made themselves available.
The Senior Section have gone to great lengths to attempt to put a side together to compete at the appropriate level. However due to the prior commitments of players and coaches (as we already knew - after all May is well after the long season has finished) we were unable to raise the required side so informed the County again as we had done weeks earlier that we cannot make this weekend. We also proposed playing the game as a pre-season fixture but unfortunately Bournemouth already have pre-season sorted out with a training week abroad.
At the time of this statement we are still awaiting to hear how the County have decided to resolve this.
Please rest assured, the club has done everything that was possible to have this game played on a suitable date that is good for everyone.
Darren McMillan
Honorary Secretary
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